iPod playback variable volumes between tracks

Fuzzy_2

Hi

Having loaded up a heap of music onto my iPod (thanks to some of you on here), I was wondering how to normalise the playback volume. Some CD's have copied across with a much lower volume than others, hence when in shuffle mode, you may have to push up the volume for some songs, and then get your ears blasted when the next track comes on!

Does anyone know how to improve this? The only unhelpful information on the Apple website tells you how to adjust the volume on the iPod itself!

We_Laugh_Indoors

do the songs have different levels of volume before you transferred them?

are they from specfic artists?

sometimes when songs are mastered they can be at a different volume level to the 'standard'

shrek101

I think you can only have the volume normalise via software. Mp3gain does this

http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/

boogiemaster

Different recording studios have different engineers; certain tunes are louder than others.
Some tunes are bassy and some have high treble ranges, no tune is the same volume because different engineers master the tunes differently.

When I’ve made a tune I export at 128kbs for sound quality and size, if I send to a label I export at 320kbs for perfect quality.
The wav file is still king for audio listening, but the mp3 for getting lots of tunes on a cd or I pod thing.

NellyLock

itunes volume normalizes songs when you add them to your library...doesn't it??? im sure it used to? thus rip to mp3->add to itunes library->copy from library to ipod...

although come to think of it itunes probably only normalizes the songs in regard to the actual program and doesnt change the track as a whole?

Mr_Proctalgia

The quickest way to normalise all your volumes is to select all the songs you want to put on your iPod (Click the first song and Shift Click the last song) Then right click in the selection. Go to "Get Info" at the bottom of the screen is a Volume bar - slide it up a notch then Ok your way out - Wait a few minutes whilst iTunes does its thing then re-attach your iPod and let it update.

We_Laugh_Indoors

boogiemaster wrote:

Different recording studios have different engineers; certain tunes are louder than others.
Some tunes are bassy and some have high treble ranges, no tune is the same volume because different engineers master the tunes differently.

When I’ve made a tune I export at 128kbs for sound quality and size, if I send to a label I export at 320kbs for perfect quality.
The wav file is still king for audio listening, but the mp3 for getting lots of tunes on a cd or I pod thing.

good point.

in general most cds are made to the same volume level.

on bit rates, i can't deal with less than 192 kbps. the tinny cymbals on any lesser quality do my head in.

drlight_2

best thing it to run it through a normalizer like shrek101 says.

Mattjimf

In iTunes if you click on the edit menu at the top left of the screen, then select prefrences then click on the effects tab there is a check box marked sound check, click on this and it should normalise all your songs, may take a while if you have a lot of songs.

edited to add: if you have the most recent version of iTunes the sound check box will be under audio and not effects. It also automatically comences as soon as you click ok.

shrek101

Yes Mattjimf is right, just had a look. Personnel I never needed to use normalize although I have had to use the audio gain a few times due to low volume.